Aerial tram in Armenia

This item appears on page 67 of the December 2010 issue.

Armenia has the world’s longest aerial tram,* as of October. With terminuses near Halidzor and Tatev Monastery and crossing the Vorotan River Gorge, Tatevi tever (Tatev wings) stretches 3½ miles.

On the dual-cable system, two 25-passenger tram cars can make the 11-minute run simultaneously in opposite directions; the top speed is 23 mph. At their highest, the cars are 1,181 feet above ground.

*Teleferico de Merida in Venezuela is longer but has not run for several years.